Chalimbana and CG 7 are susceptible to GRD. But there are several other improved varieties that have been released having traits such as resistance to GRD, high yielding and early maturing which have not been adopted by most of the farmers probably because they lack key traits of interest to the farmers. It is worth noting that farmers still grow local groundnut varieties such as Kalisele and Gambia which are less yielding but probably have those unique traits which they prefer. Low adoption can also be attributed to the low level of education among most farmers which complicate their ability to understand new agricultural technologies (Akudugu et al., 2012). However, involvement of farmers in selection of traits and incorporation of the local varieties in a breeding programme can help in enhancing adoption of new varieties developed.
Agricultural production in Malawi is further hampered by the lack of inputs. Low income levels pose a major challenge to farmers to access agricultural inputs. Most of the farmers interviewed in this study did not have formal employment from which they can obtain cash.
This could be the reason why most farmers use their own recycled seed and do not use chemicals to control pests and diseases. Lack of a structured groundnut seed enterprise provides the opportunity for cheap, low quality seed to circulate among the farmers through local traders and farmer to farmer seed exchanges. The Malawi government’s input susbsidy programme which benefits farmers has a draw back that the majority of the farmers are not reached. The presence of local traders from where farmers obtain seed indicates existing opportunities for establishment of quality assured seed enterprises within farmers’ reach.
A large proportion of farmers indicated that groundnut production was further hampered by lack of support and advice from extension staff and lack of inputs (herbicides, pesticides and fungicides). The inability of extension workers to reach out to farmers with information on varieties, inputs, markets and diseases is disastrous to increased agricultural production as a whole. For example, most of the farmers involved in this study were not aware of newly released varieties that can withstand some of the biotic and abiotic stresses related to groundnut production like drought and GRD. As such, farmers continued growing same old varieties which are susceptible to diseases and prone to droughts further reducing their overall production. In addition, lack of information on markets has led to exploitation of farmers by traders who usually dictate low prices. As a result, farmers become disinterested in producing more groundnuts for sale. However, these challenges can be solved by employing policies which can help to guide and protect farmers through the production cycle up to marketing.
The single most important disease affecting groundnut in Malawi was GRD. According to the farmers, the trend of GRD levels was increasing because of high frequency of the drought periods in Malawi. Although most farmers observed GRD in groundnuts, most of them did not know its cause, ways of transmission and how it could be controlled. In addition, the inadequacy of the extension system has failed to provide essential information to farmers. Of particular interest is that farmers in various areas had different names for GRD based on visual symptoms. However, as information about GRD is lacking among farmers, most still continue growing susceptible varieties, planting late in the season without applying any measures to control aphids. These actions combine to create conducive environments for GRD infection. Varieties which have been released recently with resistance to rosette include Chitala, Nsinjiro and Baka. As observed in this study, very few farmers had adopted them probably because of lack of certified seed and information about the varieties (Simtowe et al., 2009). Therefore, it is imperative that in order to enhance adoption and use of improved varieties, breeding programmes should involve farmers from the initial stages where farmers can select traits according to their preference. There is also need for a governmental or NGO agencies to propagate and distribute adequate quantities of the certified seed of the improved varieties to smallholder farmers.
Apart from production problems, farmers also face marketing problems. Most farmers opt to produce less quantities of groundnut because of the unavailabilty of markets and exploitation by vendors. However, of recent, the government has put deliberate policies to promote production and marketing of groundnut and several other crops. It is hoped that the current situation will change and that farmers will start to produce more groundnut for sale.
This study has elucidated the cropping systems and the choices and constraints which smallholder farmers face when growing groundnut. The use of PRA tools has demonstrated its importance in obtaining information from farmers such as preferred traits to incorporate when breeding new crop varieties. Indeed, farmers face many challenges when producing groundnut. The use of agrochemicals to control aphids appears to be unaffordable to most smallholder farmers. The other recommended agronomic practices such as early and dense planting have not been adapted by farmers because they do not fit into their overall farming programmes, such as planting maize and tobacco first because they are more important crops. As such, it can be concluded that breeding and promotion of new varieties with traits preferred by farmers is the best approach to solving the problem of GRD in Malawi. The PRA identified the traits that farmers consider to be essential or important in groundnut cultivars. These priorities will be used in the subsequent breeding programme to breed novel
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